Coupling link for separable fasteners



Aug. 22, 1939. H. MORIN ET AL COUPLING LINK FOR SEPARABLE FASTENERSFiled July 16, 1937 S m T IN E ppa/s a /N 4405 flZQBl/VJ/KY ATTORNEYPatented Aug. :2, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE I COUPLING mm roasarsaanna FASTENERS Application July 16, l937, Serial No. 153,962

9 Claims.

This invention relates to separable fasteners employing stringers withcoupling links or scoops arranged on adjacent, preferably beaded. edgesof stringer tapes, each link or scoop having male and female couplingportions whereby the links of opposed stringers may be interlocked incoupling the stringers together; and the object of the invention is toprovide a stringer for fasteners of the class described wherein thelinks or scoops applied to each stringer are made of two different formsof construction arranged alternately on the stringer, one of the groupsof links having the female socket portion formed initially in closedboundary walls and the others with an open boundary wall; a furtherobject being to provide a new method of forming the two different seriesof links on each stringer which consists in die casting, in one diecasting operation. one link of each group so that a pair of links arecast simultaneously on the stringer tape in. spaced relation to eachother in a single casting operation; a further object being to provide amethod as set forth wherein the core forming the female socket of onelink is pulled vertically or transversely with respect to thelongitudinal plane of the die parts and the core of the other companionlink is pulled horizontally or longitudinally with respect to the dieparts, the latter forming the socket normally opening outwardly, throughone side edge of the resulting link or scoop; a further object being toprovide means in the form of dies and cores for producingsimultaneously,

-or in one die casting operation, two castings in spaced impressions ormold cavities between adjacent surfaces of die parts or in pairs of dieparts, in which latter event independent pressures may be applied to therespective pairs of die parts to simplify the production ofsubstantially flare-proof castings: a still furtherobject being toprovide a mum: having a normally open socket which link is so formed asto close the opening of the socketthroughone'side wall of 'thelink; andwith these and other objects in view,'th'e lnventionconsists in a deviceof the class and for the purpose specified; constructed in"ac'-"cordance 'with the "method and by the dies em-' ployed as more i'ullyhereinafter described and 1 ,The .inventiona-is fuliy'disclosed ingthefollowing specification; rofgwhich :the; accompanying draw= ing forms apartsin-qwhicnithe. separ te parts .of

. Y .ie t rfastener. diagrammatically illustrating the arrangement ofstringers, and the manner of coupling the same.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the separate stringers of a fastener,showing said stringers detached.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one part of a die employed in forming adevice as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 4 is a partial section on the line 44 of Fig. 3, taken through theadjacent surfaces of both die parts which are employed.

' Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a modified form of one of the linksshown in Fig. 2.

' Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5, showing the step in completing theformation of the link shown in Fig. 5; and,

Fig. '7 is a view similar to Fig. 3, showing a modification wherein thedie parts are formed of two pairs of parts rather than the single partsas in Figs. 3 and 4.

In the manufacture of die cast separable fasteners made from suitabledie cast metals and/or thermoplastic materials, it has been the practiceto die cast individual links in a successive series of castingoperations on spaced intervals of a separable fastener stringer. This istaught, for example, in Patents 1,975,966 and 2,041,848. It is thepurpose of our present invention to increase the speed of production ofdie cast separable fasteners by providing dies of novel constructionwherein two different types of castings are formed in a single castingoperation. upon spaced sections or parts of a tape disposed between ad-:jacent surfaces of the dies; or in other words.

on the parting line thereof. This is accomplished by forming one castlink with a socket or female coupling portion, the 'side walls of whichare completely closed; and by the use of a core which is pulledperpendicularly with respect to said socket. whereas the other'adjacentlink is formed with a'socket or female coupling portion which opensthrough oneside surface of a link and the core formingsaid socket ispulled -hori'-' ,Zontally or laterally through said side wall of theblink. With this construction. it will be seen that when the links ofopposedstringers-are coupled togethe'rythe stringers will be 'held'against separation in allg' directions as in the "conventional type of?fasteners in whichall of the links have;

whatmaybe terrned; the closed socket or female coupling porti'on; 'which result is assured by at rangingsith'e links of opposed"stringersiwith the openings through" the sides bf the-lihlts arranged 1separable, imoppositedirections as clearly illustrated"in-Fig I providedwith enlarged or beaded edges IOa, Iia,

to which are attached the die cast links l2, |2a, l3, l3a. In theconstruction shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the links l2, l2a, are of theconventional closed type; that is to say, are provided with femalecoupling recesses or. sockets M which open only through one surface ofthe links, said links having projections IE on the opposite surfaces forentering the sockets of the links of opposed stringers. The links I3,|3a have recesses or sockets .|6 which open not only through one surfaceof the link, but also through one side wall thereof as clearly seen atIlia, in Fig. 2 of the drawing.

Solely for the sake of convenience in defining the invention, it will beassumed that the recesses are in the tops of the links and that theprojections are on the bottoms thereof, while the surfaces of the linkswhich extend parallel to the plane of the stringer willbe termed thesides of the links. It will be seen that each recess M in a link isdefined by sides whose entire upper edges are within the topv surface ofthat link, whereas each recess IS in another link opens through one sideof that link, or in other words is .defined by sides at least one ofwhose edges is in one of the sides of the linkv and below the topsurface thereof. The links having one form 'of recess will be referredto as in aseries, and it will be noted that the projections l5 areconcoupling elements may be modified within such degrees as will permitof the formation thereof in accordance with the teachings hereindefined.

In Figs. 5 and 6 of the drawing, we have shown at H, a modified form oflink, I3,. l3a, wherein one side wall l8 of the link, the side wallthrough which the socket l9 opens,-is fashioned to provide a pair ofprojecting members 20, adjacent surfaces of which are. continuous withopposed side walls of the socket IS. The members 20 may be turnedinwardly to close the-:opening of the socket l9, through thewall l8, asindicated at.- 2011, in Fig.- 6 of the drawing. At this time, itwill bewell to note that if the link is made of thermoplastic material, themembers 20 -may be cemented together where they abut as at 20a in Fig. 6of thedrawing;

In forming fasteners of the kind under consideration, one of the links|2|2a, and one of the links |3-|3a, are formed simultaneously upon thestringer tape. or the beaded edge thereof, by

the use of a novel type of die construction, end portion of one part 2|of which is shown in perspective in Fig. 3 of the drawingywhereas theend portion of the other part 22 is indicated in section in Fig. 4 ofthe drawing. Adjacent surfaces of the die parts are provided with moldcavities 23 and 24 of a contour defining the contour of the links, |2,|3, respectively, to be formed when the dies are brought into abuttingrelation with each other with the tape therebetween, the beaded edgebeing disposed in recesses 25, formed in adjacent surfaces of the dieparts. A recess 1 26 is also formed between the die parts'and opens intothe cavity 23 through the upper surface of the die parts to receive acore pin 21, the lower end 28 of which forms the recess or socket I4, in

the links |2--|2a. The cavity 24 differs from the cavity 23 in that therecess 26 is omitted but substituted therefor the die part 2|, in theconstruction shown, is provided with an inwardly projecting core pinportion 29 which forms the recess IS in the links |3-|3a.

Opening through one side surface of the dies on the parting line thereofis an admission passage or gate 30 into which suitable die castingmaterial from a heated nozzle or cylinder 3|, partially shown in Fig. 3of the drawing, may be injected under pressure into the cavities 23. 24through diverging branches 30a of the opening or gate 30. The branches30a are also arranged on the parting line of the die parts so that afterthe castings have been formed in the cavities or impressions 23, 24, thedies may be separated and the two resulting castings, including the gateportions 32 thereon, may be collectively moved downwardly andtheuppermost casting stripped from the core 21 after which this core isreturned to its raised position and then moved between the dies in againclosing the same in the next successive casting operation in whichanother pair of castings, |2--|3, |2a --|3a, are formed. At-this time,it will be understood that the gates 32 may be trimmed-from the castingsin the usual or known manners. The dies are provided with watercirculating passages, which extend topoints adjacent the impressions inthe die parts, to cool the castings in order to insure a high rate ofproduction of the fastener stringers in question.

In Fig. '7 of the drawing, we have shown a slight modification of thestructure shown in Fig. 5, to illustrate that the die parts may besevered longitudinally to divide the same into independent sections orpairs of die parts as is indicated by theline 34 in. Fig. 7 of thedrawing, which will divide the die part, for example, the part 2|, intoindependent sections or members 2|a, 2|b; the section 2|a containing thecavity or impression 23a, equivalent to the impression 23, whereas thesection 2|b has the cavity or impression 24a,

similar to the impression 24. While only one die part is shown, it willbe understood that both dieparts will be similarlyformed.

The purpose of this construction is to permit the application ofindependent. pressures on the separate sections 2|, am, so that if. anyslight variation should prevail in the structure of the stringer tape.or the beaded edge thereof, this slight or minute variation-,will be"compensated for by the independent pressures applied to the sections 2|a, 21b, in the operation of moving the dies into closed position.'I'his'will insure a more perfect seal of the dies around the tape andavoid the possibility of flare, of the casting material, not only aroundthe tape but at the other parting line edges of the resulting casting.'

It will, of course, be unde'rstood that at no time i would there be anyappreciable differential between the two die sections 2 a, 222), whichwould cause anydimculty with respect to the admission of the castingmaterial through the nozzle 3|a.

However, it is also possible to construct the upper section Ila toinclude, as an integral part thereof, the portion designated at Me whichwould abut the part 2lb on the dot-dash line Ild; in which event theadmission opening or gate passage 30b would be formed only in the part2la and its associated or opposed part, and not in the part 2") or itsassociated and opposed part.

Aside from the structural differences above outlined, the method offorming dual castings with the structure shown in Fig. 7 will be thesame as in the steps of the method as disclosed in conjunction with thedies shown in Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawing. With respect to thestructure shownin Figs. 5 and 6, it will be understood that the step ofturning the member 20 inwardly from the position shown in Fig. 5 to thatshown in Fig. 6, will be performed either in a suitable press whenmetallic castings are formed or by softening the material and thenreshaping the same in the event that the links are formed fromthermoplastic or similar material.

In forming thermoplastic die castings, it will be understood that thestringer tapes, or at least the beaded edge. portions thereof, may befirst treated with a suitable material, such for example as acetone, tomore securely attach the thermoplastic links to the stringers or beadededge portions thereof; especially when the links are constructed ofcellulose acetate.

While our invention has been specifically illustrated in the formationof die castings of predetermined type and kind and used for a specificpurpose, it will be apparent that the fundamental principles of ourinvention may be utilized in the simultaneous formation of different diecastings on a single mounting member, especially wherein different typesof cores are employed and moved in different directions as in thepresent disclosure. As a matter of fact, it is within the spirit of ourinvention to form within relatively movable dies or pairs of dies, twoor more independent and complete die castings in a single injection ofcasting material under pressure into the cavities or impressions of thedies. It will also be understood that any arrangement of the differentlinks may be provided on the mounting member.

Having fully described our invention, what we claim as new and 'desireto secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A separable fastener employing stringers having coupling linksarranged and spaced longitudinally on one edge thereof, and a slidermovable along the stringers to couple and uncouple said links, one ofthe stringers having links provided with male and female couplingportions, the latter being in the form of sockets opening through onesurface only of the links,

and other links on the stringer intermediate the first named linkshaving male and female coupling portions, and the female couplingportions of the latter links opening through one surface and one sideonly of said links.

2. A separable fastener employing stringers.

having coupling links arranged and spaced longitudinally on one edgethereof, and a slider movable along the stringers to couple and uncouplesaid links, one of the stringers having links provided with male andfemale coupling portions,

the latter being in the form of sockets opening through one surface onlyof the links, and other links on the stringer intermediate the firstnamed links having male and female coupling portions, the femalecoupling portions of the latter links opening through one surface andone. side only of said links, and the links of the companion string-' erbeing similarly formed and the socket portions of the second mentionedlinks opening through the opposite side of the stringers when saidstringers are coupled together.

3. A separable fastener of the type comprising tion on the bottomthereof, the links on one stringer being divided into two series havingdifferent forms of recesses, with the links of one series alternatingwith those of the other, the recess in each link of one series beingdefined by sides whose entire upper edges are within the surface of thetop of the link, and the recess in each link of the other series openinglaterally through one of the sides of the link and being defined bysides at least one of whose edges is in one of the sides of thelink andbelow the top surface of the link.

4. A separable fastener of the type comprising two stringers havingcoupling links spaced longitudinally thereof and cast thereon, each linkhaving a recess in the top thereof and a projection on the bottomthereof, the links on one stringer being divided into two series havingdiffcrent forms of recesses, with the links of one series alternatingwith those of .the other, the recess in each link of one seriesbeingdefined by sides whose'entire upper edges are within the surface ofthe top of the link, and the recess in each link of the other seriesopening laterally through one of the sides of the link and being definedby sides at least one of whose edges is in one of the sides of the linkand below the top surface of the link, the projections on all linksbeing constructed and arranged to engage in a recess in a. link ofeither series.

5. A separable fastener of the type comprising two stringers havingcoupling links spaced longitudinally thereof and cast thereon, each linkhaving a recess in the top thereof and a projection on the bottomthereof, the links on one stringer being divided into two series havingdifferent forms of recesses, with the links of one series alternatingwith those of the other, the recess in each link of one series beingdefined by sides whose entire upper edges are within the surface of thetop of the link, and the recess in each link of the other series openinglaterally through one of the sides of the link and being defined bysides at least one of whose edges is in one of the sides of the link andbelow the top surface of the link, and a projection, extending outwardlyfrom said side of the link adjacent said recess and adapted to be bentacross the opening of, said recess in said side.

6. A separable fastener of the type comprising two stringers havingcoupling links spaced longitudinally thereof and cast thereon, each linkhaving a recess in the top thereof and a projection on the bottomthereof, the links on one stringer being divided into two series havingdifferent forms of recesses, with the links of one series alternatingwith those of the other, the recess in each link of one series beingdefined by sides whose entire upper edges are within the surface of thetop of the link, and the recess in each link of the other series openinglaterally through one of the sides of the link and being defined bysides at least one of whose edges is in one .of the sidesof the link andbelow the top surface of the link, and projections extending outwardlyfrom said side of the link, said projections being disposed on oppositesides of said recess and adapted to be bent across the opening of saidrecess in said side.

'7. A separable fastener of the type comprising two stringers havingcoupling links spaced lon- 1 gitudinally thereof and cast thereon, eachlink having a recess in the top thereof and a projection on the bottomthereof, the links on each stringer being divided into two series havingdifferent forms of recesses, with the links of one series alternatingwith those of the other, the recess in each link of one series beingdefined by sides whose entire upper edges are within the surface of thetop of the link, and the recess in each link of the other series openinglaterally through one of the sides of the link and being defined bysides at least one of whose edges is in one of the sides of the link andbelow the top surface of the link, said recesses in said other series onone tape opening through sides of the links on one side of the fastenerand on the other tape opening through sides of the links on the otherside of the fastener.

8. A separable fastener of the type comprising two stringers havingcoupling links spaced longitudinally thereof and cast thereon, each linkhaving a recess in the top thereof and a projection on the bottomthereof, the links on each stringer being divided into two series havingdifferent forms of recesses, with the links of one series alternatingwith those of the other, the recess in each link of one series beingdefined by sides whose entire upper edges are within the'surface of thetop of the link, the recess in each link ofthe other series openinglaterally through one of the sides of the link and being defined bysides at least one of whose edges is in one of the sides of the link andbelow the top surface of the link, and the links in each series on onetape being staggered relative to the links in the corresponding serieson the other tape.

9. A separable fastener of the type comprising two stringers havingcoupling links spaced longitudinally thereof and cast thereon, each linkhaving a. recess in the top thereof and a projection on the bottomthereof, the links on each stringer being divided into two series havingdifferent forms of recesses, with the links of one series alternatingwith those of the other, the recess in each link of one series beingdefined by sides whose entire upper edges are within the surface of thetop of the link, and the recess in each link of the other series openinglaterally through one of the sides of the link and being defined bysides at least one of whose edges is in one of the sides of the link andbelow the top surface of the link, said recesses in said other series onone tape opening through sides of the links on one side of the fastenerand on the other tape opening through sides of the links on the otherside of the fastener, and the links in each series on one tape beingstaggered relative to the links in the corresponding series on the othertape.

LOUIS H. MORIN. DAVIS MARINSKY.

